Cost of Living Comparison Between San Rafael, CA and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between San Rafael, CA and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,891 in San Rafael, CA versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,339 in San Rafael, CA versus $5,763 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,787 in San Rafael, CA versus $7,691 in Seattle, WA.

Living in San Rafael, CA is roughly 27% more expensive than in Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: San Rafael, CA 256% above, Seattle, WA 179% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$28.56 $28.56

$24.68 $24.68

15.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$112 $112

$99.1 $99.1

13.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.06 $12.06

$15.09 $15.09

-20.08%

Cappuccino

$4.84 $4.84

$6.62 $6.62

-26.89%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$3.13 $3.13

-2.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.98 $2.98

2.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.89 $5.89

$8.12 $8.12

-27.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.95 $6.95

$7.85 $7.85

-11.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.17 $1.17

21.37%

White Bread (500g)

$4.34 $4.34

$5.20 $5.20

-16.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$9.80 $9.80

$6.40 $6.40

53.13%

Eggs

$5.50 $5.50

$4.91 $4.91

12.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.06 $21.06

$21.46 $21.46

-1.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.69 $16.69

$18.58 $18.58

-10.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.04 $19.04

$23.05 $23.05

-17.40%

Apples (1kg)

$7.25 $7.25

$5.79 $5.79

25.22%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.88 $1.88

53.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.65 $6.65

$5.38 $5.38

23.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.64 $8.64

$6.30 $6.30

37.14%

Potato (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$3.80 $3.80

42.63%

Onion (1kg)

$4.78 $4.78

$3.26 $3.26

46.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.87 $2.87

6.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$2.71 $2.71

37.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.87 $10.87

$14.15 $14.15

-23.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.12 $14.12

$15.07 $15.07

-6.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$4.36 $4.36

-50.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 $3.23

$5.75 $5.75

-43.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$3.06 $3.06

-36.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.0 $64.0

$110 $110

-41.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.05 $4.05

$2.57 $2.57

57.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.39 $4.39

$1.65 $1.65

166.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.80 $28.80

$29.88 $29.88

-3.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.38 $1.38

-3.62%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.6K $32.6K

$36.4K $36.4K

-10.59%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.1K $25.1K

6.91%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$254 $254

$296 $296

-14.29%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$82.7 $82.7

$71.3 $71.3

15.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.9 $61.9

$88.0 $88.0

-29.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$122 $122

$81.5 $81.5

50.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.45 $29.45

$35.70 $35.70

-17.51%

Cinema Ticket

$14.18 $14.18

$18.33 $18.33

-22.64%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,076 $2,076

$3,067 $3,067

-32.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.9K $24.9K

$30.6K $30.6K

-18.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.4 $60.4

$77.0 $77.0

-21.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.93 $42.93

$54.0 $54.0

-20.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 $95.6

$128 $128

-25.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

$165 $165

-20.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,319 $3,319

$2,418 $2,418

37.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,166 $3,166

$1,931 $1,931

63.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,291 $4,291

$4,756 $4,756

-9.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,845 $3,845

$3,584 $3,584

7.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,640 $7,640

$7,403 $7,403

3.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,471 $5,471

$5,056 $5,056

8.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,085 $7,085

$6,320 $6,320

12.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

-6.54%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for San Rafael, CA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,319 in San Rafael, CA and $2,418 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Rafael, CA pays 12% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $112 in San Rafael, CA vs $99.0 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $574 vs $554 per month, with Seattle, WA cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

San Rafael, CA vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in San Rafael, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Seattle, WA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 12% higher in San Rafael, CA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $3,319 in San Rafael, CA versus $2,418 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $4,891 per month in San Rafael, CA versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Seattle, WA runs roughly 72% less than in San Rafael, CA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Seattle, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Seattle, WA delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,836 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Seattle, WA hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, San Rafael, CA and Seattle, WA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Seattle, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in San Rafael, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.